Seven Steps beyond the Horizon of the Crisis

It is often thought that an acute international crisis is not the best time to reflect on long-term foreign policy objectives. A crisis demands that politicians and practicing experts completely concentrate on achieving immediate goals and dramatically narrows the horizons of long-term planning, forcing leaders to put off many things that only recently appeared extremely important and urgent. During a crisis, tactics dominate strategizing, and decision-making is largely determined by the rigid logic...